Indianapolis, IN——
The 76ers were unable to clinch the top seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs after losing to the Indiana Pacers 103-94 in the absence of Joel Embiid, who missed the game due to a Non-COVID Illness.
After leading Indiana by 11 at the half, the Sixers looked to be well on their way to claiming the number one seed, but the Pacers had other plans as they would go on to tie the game by the end of the third quarter. Following a back and forth and final period of play, Caris LeVert put the final nail in the coffin by sinking a step-back three-point shot over Mike Scott in the game’s final seconds.
Despite the loss, rookie guard Tyrese Maxey showed flashes of big things to come with one of his best performances of his young NBA career.
The Sixers are back again on Thursday as they look to beat the Miami Heat and claim their spot atop the Eastern Conference in front of a national TV audience on TNT.